Switch mechanism



Nov. 10 1925- H. K. KRANTZ SWITCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet .5

Filed Jan. v, 1922 WITNESSES:

' ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, A1925.

UNITED STATES 1,561,248 PATENT oFF-ICE.

HUBERT K. KRANTZ, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VAN IA.

SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application led January 7, 1922. Serial No. 527,782.

To alt whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HUBERT K. KRANTZ, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of VVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switch Mechanism, of which the following is a speciiication. i

My invention relates to switch mechanism and particularly to switch mechanism of the enclosed safety type.

One object of my invention is vto provide an enclosed safety switch mechanism wherein the cover is so interlocked with the switch that the switch cannot be closed while the cover is open and the door cannot be opened so long as the switch is closed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch mechanism, having the above characteristics, wherein the cover co-operates with the handle of the switch for constituting an interlock and wherein the handle prevents appreciable opening movement of the cover when the switch is in closed position.

Another object of my invention is to provide the switch housing with a cover having a compound opening movement whereby it is moved into co-operative relation to the switch for preventing lclosing movement of the switch while the cover is in open position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple means whereby the switch may be retained in open position when the cover is in closed position.

These and other objects, that will be made apparent throughout the further description of my invention, areattained by means of the switch mechanism hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a ront View of an enclosed switch mechanism embodying featuresl of my invention;

Fig. 2 isa longitudinal section, taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1 and showing parts in section and parts in elevation;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the cover mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, showing the door in open position;

Figs. 4 and 5 are front and side elevational views oi' the stationary cover of the housing;

Fig. 6 is a front view of a modified form of switch housing;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the stationary cover show-n in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8, is a transverse section through the stationary cover taken on the VIII-VIII of Fig. 6.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 408,849, tiled Septemeber 8, 1920, I have shown a switch mechanism and housing somewhat similar to the construction illus trated in the drawings except thatthe door is pivoted to a fixed hinge and that lugs are secured to the doorfor interlocking with the switch handle. The lu s are required on the door of the device il ustrated in the above-mentioned application because of the necessity for locating the hinge at a distance from the operating handle in order to prevent opening movement of the door when the handle is in closed position. The lugs extend across the path of movement of the handle and prevent closing `movement thereof so long as the door is open. When the cover is closed, the lugs project into the housing and, in some instances, through the partition or barrier, their length being determined by the distance the cover hinge` is spaced from the operating handle.

The present invention is adapted for use in switch mechanism wherein the space between the barrier and the cover is limited and wherein the switch mechanism beneath the barrier is of such proportions that it is not expedient to use interlocking lugs carried by the door.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus includes a housing having bottom walls 9, end walls 10 and side walls 11 forming a rectangular receptacle in which a sna switch 12 of the rotary type is mounte upon a. suitable base 13. Fuse receptacles 14 are mounted upon the base and are connected in series with the terminals of the switch. The receptacles are of the screw type and are adapted to ordinarily receive left-hand .threaded plug type thermal cutouts, but plug fuses 15 of standard design may also be used.

The switch 12, which may be of any preferred construction, is provided with ar. operating shaft 16 upon the end of which is mounted an oblong operating handle 17. The handle is so mounted upon the operating shaft that its major axis extends longitudinally of the housing, as indicated rin Fig. 1, when the switch isy in open or o' position and is disposed transversely ofthe housing, as indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1, when the switch is in closed or on position.

The side walls 1l of the housing are provided, at their edges, with notches 18, one end of which is undercut as to provide an overhanging ledge 19, the purpose ot' which will. hereinafter appear.

The end walls of the housing are provided with inwardly extending lugs 2l that are upstruck from the body of the plates constituting the end members and serve to support an insulating barrier 22 that preferably extends the entire length and width of the housing and is provided with openings 23 through which the threaded ends of the fuse plugs extend into the receptacles. The barrier is also provided with an opening 24 through Vwhich the operating shaft l16 projects. The barrier serves to prevent access to all of the live members and terminals of the switch and fuse mechanism therebeneath.

'lhe housing is provided with a stationary cover portion 25 that is illustrated in detail in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The cover is provided with side flanges 26 and an end flange 27 that overlap the side walls and end wall of. the housing. The side flanges 26 are provided. with slots 28 having an enlarged portion 29 at one end. The slots are so disposed that they register with the -notches 18 in the side walls of the housing.

The cover is adapted to be attached, at one end, to the housing by means of screws 31 that are threaded into lugs 32 .secured to, or integral with, the end walls 10. The other end of the cover 25 is provided with two inwardly projecting lugs 33 that extend beneath lthe projection 19 onthe side walls, and thereby prevent relative displacement of the cover and housin The tongues 33 also engage-the lupper sur ace of the barrier 22 for retaining the barrier in assembled relation to the housing.

A hinged door or cover 34 is provided for closing the opening over the fuse receptacles. This cover is provided with an end flan e 35 and side flanges 36 that overlap the si e walls and end walls of the housing. The side walls 3.6 extend `slightly beyond the hin'ed end of the cover and are provided with hinge rivets 37 that slidably operate in the slots 28 in sucli manner that the axis of rotation of the cover may be'moved lon itudinally of the housing within the limits of the slots, the purpose bein to provide means whereby the hinge" of "t e door, may

be moved substantially into the plane of the axis of the switch-operating shaft.

The door is provided Awith a slot 38 in'the 'thereof to' the other.

interference with the operating handle,`

when the switch is in the off position. lVhen the cover is-moved to open position, indicated in dot-anddash lines in Fig. 3, the hinges 37 drop into the enlarged portions 29 of the slots 28 and serve to releasably retain the hinges in the open position'. When lthe cover' is in the open position, closing movement of the switch is prevented by reason of engagement of the operating handle with the edges of the slot 38 in the door. It will be seen that, if provision were not made for shifting thelhinge longitudinally of the housing, the door would not interfere with-the operation of the switch handle when-in open position. In order to impart a compound motion to the door during it's opening movement, links 39 of L-shape are pivoted, at one end, to the cover 25 by means of rivets 41 and, at the other end, to the door 34 at a point intermediate' the hinge pivo't 37 and the end thereof by rivets 40. During the opening `movement, the door simultaneously swings around the pivots 4l and the hinge pivots 37 slide in the slots 28 from one end lVhen the door is moved to open position, the hinge pivots 37 engage the ends of the slots 28 and prevent further opening movement. Closing movement is. prevented -by reason of the engagement f-o the enlarged portions 29 of the slots 28. In order to close Vthe door, it must be raised slightly before turning movement is permitted. Pressure applied to the freel` end ofthe door causes the pivots 37 to slide u ward and out of the enlargedl portion 29 ot the slot 28..

By reason of the foregoing construction, it will be apparent that, when the switch is in closed position and the major axis of the operating handle is disposed transversely of the housing, opening movement of-the cover 1s prevented by reason of the engage-I ment ofthe cover with the operating handle.

However, when the switch is moved to open position, the cover may be opened. When ment of the switch is prevented by the cover.

It is frequently desirable to lock the switch in the off position when the cover is closed. For this purpose, I have pivotally mounted a latch arm 42 onthe underside of the cover 25. The arm is provided with a the hinge pivots 37 with the cover is in open position,'closing movef projection 43 thatextends-above the outer yit a position adjacent the hub of the switchoperating handle 17. The door is provided with al notch 45 through which the` projection 43 extends which serves to prevent movement ofthe arm 42 when the cover'is closed. The projection 43V interferes with the operating handle 17 and prevents closing movement thereof. -When the operat` or door is closed. In the modied construe-- tion, the stationary cover is provided,

' at its free end, with an inwardly extending flange 47 that is provided with a slot 48 in which the latch 49 is slidably pivoted. Adjacent the flange 27 the cover 25 is pro-l vided with a groove or'depression 51 which is adapted to receive the end 52 of the latch 49. The latch 49 is provided with a projection 53 that when in the operative position indicated in Fig. 6, extends above the door 34 across the path of movement of theoperating handle and prevents closing movement thereof.

When the latch is in inoperative position, it extends. into the housing asv indicated in Fig. 8. In order to move it into operative position, it is iirst swung about its pivot into the. position indicated in dot-and-dash lines in. Fig. 8 and then moved in the groove 51 toward the axis ofthe switch handle to the position indicated in Fig. 6. When the coverv is in closed position, movement of the projection 53 is prevented.

While I have described and illustrated but two embodiments of m invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made therein within the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim as my invention:

1. Switch mechanism comprising a housing, a cover therefor having a transverse hinge slidable longitudinally of the housing and a slot adjacent the hinged end thereof, and a switch device within the housing having an operating handle extending through the slot and adapted to engage the cover and prevent opening movement thereof when the switch is in closed position, the said cover being adapted to move longitudinally of the housing during the opening movement thereof and to prevent closing The ,movement of the switch when the cover-is in open position, y

2v. Switch mechanism comprising a housing, a cover therefor having a. transverse hinge slidable longitudinally of thehousin and ay slot adjacent the' hingedA end there() and a switch device .within the housing having an operatinghandle extending vthrough the slot and adapted to engage the-cover and prevent opening lmovement. thereof when the switch is inclosed position, the said cover being adapted to move longitudinally of the housing during the opening movement thereof and to prevent closing movement of the switch when the cover is in closed position.

3. Switch mechanism comprising a houring, a switch within the housing, a cover for the` housing having one end slidably hinged to the housing whereby movement of therhinged end of the cover bodily toward the switch in a direction transverse.

to the axis of the hinge, is permitted for so interlocking the cover with the switch `that closing movement of the latter is precluded so long as the cover is in open position. l

4. An enclosure for switch mechanism comprising a housing, a cover for the housing having one (end hinged within a guide slot in the housing and slidable transversely of the axis of the hinge, and a link pivoted to the housing and to the cove'r intermediate the hinge and the free end of the cover for controlling movement of the cover.

5. Switch mechanism comprising a housing, a switch within the housing having a rotatable' operating handle extending exteriorly thereof, a cover for the housing having an opening therein, through which theV handle projects for permitting opening movement of the cover without interference with the handle when the switch is in open position, the-said handle being adapted to extend across the opening and overlap a portion of the cover adjacentv the opening .when the switch is in closed position, a

hinge forl the cover disposed remotel from the axis of rotation ofthe handle when the cover is in closed position and slidably mounted on the housingv for movement to a point adjacent to the said axis wherebyvthe cover is moved into interference with the handle for preventing closing movement thereof when the cover is in open position.

6. An enclosure for electrical apparatus comprising a housing having a bottom portion and side walls provided with undercut notches in the edgesI thereof, projections extending inwardly from the side walls, a partition supported'upon the said projections, and a cover portion for the housing having projections thereon engaging'the undercut portion ofthesaid'notches and the said partition for holding the parthe housing and means mounted on the cover and movable into (zo-operative relation With the switch and adapted to be retained in such relation by the door, when the door is in closed position.

8. Switch mechanism comprising a housing, a switch within the housing4 havin; an operating handle extending exteriorly of the housing, a cover for a portion of the housing, means pivotally attached thereto and movable into co-operative/relation with the handle for preventing; movement thereof, and a door for completing; the closure of the housing for retaining the said means in co-operative relation When the door is in closed position1 i). Switchhnechanism comprising a housing, a switch member and a cover having one end hinged to the housing` and movable bodily transversely' of the axis of the hinge into interlocked relation with the switch member for precluding closing movement bodily transversely of the axis of the hinge during the opening movement thereof into interlocked relation with the switch member for preventing'closing movement of the latter While the cover is in closed position. ln testimony whereof, `I have hereunto subscribed .my name this 9th day of December9 i921. y

HUBERT K. Kimura.y 

